Water Table for kids- with BUBBLES!
The best water table activity idea for kids included lots of bubbles for sensory play!
Take water play to the next level! This easy water table activity is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, or any kid who loves water (and bubbles!). Adding bubbles to your kids’ water table is a great sensory activity for outdoor play.
(This post contains affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites)
What is the best water table for kids?
One filled with bubbles!
How many times a day do you hear “I’m bored”? It feels like 1,000 times (especially in the summer!) It’s hard to imagine how my kids get bored when they have SO many toys that I had to make a play schedule and create a list of places to donate old toys.
Here are a few fun water table options:
Step 2 Tropical Rainforest Watertable for kids
Step 2 is a trusted name in kids toys and this colorful set comes with 13 accessories:
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
Another great option from Step2, this table is great for sand or water and is perfect for any dino lover! Play with the water or dig for dinos in the sand!
ConeWhale 3-in-1 Outdoor Sand and Water Play Table
This option is super affordable and comes with tons of accessories!
The water table was awesome for about a week and then it became a lawn ornament (sound familiar?). One of the ways I try to keep the novelty of toys from wearing off so quickly is to repurpose them (like I did when we made moon dough!).
So one afternoon while I am juggling being a stay-at-home and work-from-home Mom, I tried this activity to keep my kids entertained. It kept them busy for over an hour (which is quite a task with 2 toddlers)!
I really enjoyed watching them play happily and it inspired this list. I hope you can appreciate my “mom” humor and see the serious reason why bubble in the water table turned out to be a fantastic idea!
Water table play idea:
7 Reasons why you NEED to put bubbles in your water table:
1.It’s hard to get a spa appointment- Apparently, Strawberry Shortcake’s friend, Blueberry, needed a spa day. She got a shampoo and rinse along with her “relaxing” bubble bath. I believe Barbie is still on the waiting list for an appointment.
2. Toy trucks can’t get to the car wash- Who wants to wait in line at the expensive car wash? Toy cars can get the VIP treatment right in the backyard with some bubble bath and an old dish rag.
3. Learning to wash the dishes is a valuable life skill– The earlier kids develop a love of dish washing; the better it will be for everyone. (It is also a good fine motor activity- see #7).
4. Mom has some gardening to do- and her tomato plants can’t handle another game of “Big Foot”.
5. Bath time can be such a fight– Suds them up, rinse them off. Bath time: Done. (I’m half joking here people).
And more seriously…
6. Bubbles and water play are great sensory activities– Sensory play helps children make a connection between words and meanings. Telling a child/toddler/baby “bubble” doesn’t mean much to them. Telling them “bubble” and then letting them experience the feel of bubbles, the texture, the temperature, etc. helps them understand what a bubble actually “is”. Children learn through their senses (a huge part of the reason babies put everything in their mouths). This is an excellent activity to allow children to learn through sensory play.
7. They are developing fine motor skills– In short, fine motor skills involve the use of the smaller muscles of the body. Skills such as pinching and grasping improve these muscles in children. Developing these muscles now helps later with writing, computer use (they are the future of the information age), their ability to dress themselves, and hopefully their skilled use of medical instruments (because they are all going to be doctors, right?!). In all seriousness, activities such as washing dishes and grasping toys build important fine motor skills.
Bonus reason!- Childhood is short. You hear it all the time, but it is not until you see your own child do it that you get the full meaning of the phrase “they grow up so fast”. Letting them play and enjoy being carefree is just as important for them as it is for their adoring, tired parents. So my last point is for you: enjoy watching your kids play in the bubbles of childhood!
When they are done playing water table, teach them these 15 “old-school” outdoor games that you used to play as a kid!
*Don’t forget to PIN this for when you need a fun, outdoor activity for your kids!*
BTW, if you use water toys in your water table, it is REALLY important to clean them and replace them often. Here is what I found last summer when I wondered what the “dark” spot was inside and decided to cut it open:
Yep. Gross. Here are some tips on keeping water toys clean.
Here is the water table we have (from the photos):
It has now lasted through 3 kids. Every spring I use a Magic Eraser to wipe it down and it’s almost like new.
What type of bubbles should I put in my water table for kids?
It is important to make sure the soap you use in your water table is safe for kids’ sensitive skin.
Using bath bubbles seems to make the most suds and cause the least irritation.
Personally, I look for products that do not contain SLS or hormone-disrupting chemicals and opt for more natural choices that are safer for their skin.
My favorite product is Everyone Soap. We use it (the same bottle) for hand soap, body wash, and shampoo.
It comes in a variety of scents and you can also find hair conditioners and many other products. I literally use 3 bottles a month because it is so versatile and I feel comfortable using it on my kids- which is why I also use it for their water table bubbles!
You can also find bath bubbles from Puracy and HOnest kids that are gentle and more natural:
No matter what you choose, always make sure the soap is baby/kid safe and protect their eyes when neccesary.
Looking for more outdoor fun? Read more here: LINK
Want to try another fine motor activity: LINK
Now hurry and put those bubbles in your water table because those dishes aren’t going to wash themselves! 😉
Leave a Reply